The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers stand in way of Boston Celtics dominance

By Bret Stuter

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 18: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 18, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 18: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 18, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 18: Ben Simmons
BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 18: Ben Simmons /

Can NBA history repeat itself? Now that everyone is penciling in the Boston Celtics as the NBA Eastern Conference Champs for years to come, there is this one minor detail they are ignoring. Here come the Philadelphia 76ers!

No Philadelphia 76ers fan will deny that the Boston Celtics are good this season. Very good indeed. At 40-18, and with a defense second to only that of the San Antonio Spurs, they appear to be a lock for the NBA Championship series this year. And they are without a player who could very likely prove to be an incredible compliment to their roster in Gordon Hayward.

When you look at their salary structure, and their unique combination of veteran and youth, they appear to be a team capable of winning for a very long time. They have not overloaded on veterans. In fact, the Celtics have painstakingly been very vigilant to maintain a balance of very productive stars with high-ceiling young players to develop along the way. And so far, it’s working.

Already anointed

Yes, this Celtics team has some serious success potential. But potential is in no way realized fact. So there is still a small matter of even getting to the NBA Championship to compete for the NBA title.  But that all seems like a given this season to many.  In fact, before the Celtics had won anything, there are already those who are anointing them of NBA dominance for the foreseeable future:

But there is one minor detail missing. One slight vacuum. A pothole on the highway to Celtics dominance of the NBA.  After all, the Boston Celtics have yet to win anything, and they are getting a rather early anointing, aren’t they?